Unfortunately, that sliminess puts off many diners, but you can minimize
it by buying small, fresh okra and by cooking it very briefly.
Okra's popular in the South, where they fry it in
cornmeal, pickle it (this also gets rid of the sliminess), and use it
to thicken their gumbos. Substitutes: gumbo filé
(This is also used a
thickener in gumbos. Substitute one tablespoon gumbo filé for every
three cups okra, but don't add the gumbo filé until after the gumbo has
been completely cooked.) OR nopales (also serves as a thickener) OR asparagus
(takes longer to cook) OR eggplant (takes longer to cook) OR purslane

sugar snap = snap pea = sugar snap pea = sugar pea
Notes: This cross between an English pea and a
snow pea is sweet and crisp, and is eaten whole, pod and all. Sugar
snaps can be served raw, briefly stir-fried, pickled, or steamed as a side
dish. Substitutes: snow pea (flatter, not
as sweet) OR
asparagus OR carrots (for a crudité platter)